Valve locking means



Feb. 29, 1944. w. M. HAEssLER 2,342,564

VALVE LOCKING MEANS Filed Sept. 11, 1942 65 INVENTOR A BY is. ATTOR Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Specialties Development Corporation,

Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 1l, 1942, Serial No. 457,923

Z4 Claims. (Cl. 251-163) This invention relates to valves and the like. and more particularly to improved means for locking the valve operating member against movement.

In connection with aircraft, particularly aircraft of the armed forces, it has been customary to provide each airman with safety equipment such as illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,114,301, which comprises a parachute for making a safe descent after abandoning the craft in mid-air, and a life raft or life boat folded and stored in a pack. The raft or boat is adapted to be iniiated by a fluid pressure medium, in the event the airman anticipates that he will land on a body of water. The iiuid pressure medium may be compressed air or liquified carbon dioxide gas, which usually is stored in a pressure container or cylinder having a valve for releasing the medium. The container or cylinder is operatively connected to the raft or boat to facilitate iniation when the medium is released, and is assembled together with the raft or boat in the pack.

During the flight of the aircraft, the airmen, if seated, either sit on their raft pack or lean their backs against it, thus using the pack as a cushion. Y

While providing a cushioning eifect, the raft or boat in the pack may rub against the valve operating member and cause damage to the fabric of the raft, or boat, which, when subsequently used, may fail to perform its intended life saving function. Also, rubbing against the valve operating member may cause accidental or unintentional operation thereof, whereby the raft or boat may be prematurely inflated. When the raft is inflated while the airman is in the plane, the airman may be trapped, particularly if he is in close quarters, or he may be prevented from carrying out his assignment as gunner, pilot or the like, or otherwise may be encumbered.

The present invention aims to provide a valve having improved locking means. The invention further aims to provide an improved valve particularly adapted to be used in connection with equipment of the foregoing character, which overcomes the disadvantages of the valves used heretofore.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve having means adapted to be positively latched to lock the valve against unintentional or accidental operation.

Another object is to provide locking means for a valve, which cannot move out of locking relation unless manually operated.

the locking means are readily intentionally unlatched and moved out of valve locking relation.

Another object is to provide a valve in accordance with the foregoing objects, wherein the locking means are constructed of a minimum number of parts and can be manufactured in a simple and economical manner.

Another object is to provide a valve having a manual operating member and locking means for the member, wherein the operating member is relatively smooth to minimize damage to the equipment with which it is used, and the locking means are shielded.

A further object consists in the construction. arrangement, and operation-ofthe parts of the valve and its locking means, whereby the foregoing objects are accomplished.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the acompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a valve. partly in section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the valve shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3 3 on Figure 2, illustrating the locking means in detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing. there is shown a valve Il operatively attached to the neck of a cylinder Il for containing a :duid pressure medium (Figure 1). The valve comprises a valve body I2 having a chamber therein provided with an inlet I3 for the pressure medium, an annular downwardly facing valve seat I4 above the inlet, a valve member l5 adapted to be forced upwardly against its seat I4 by the pressure medium, a perforated disc IB for preventing the valve member from dropping into the cylinder, and a discharge outlet I'I in communication with the valve chamber above the seat I4.

The discharge outlet I1 is adapted to receive a suitable hose or the like (not shown), which may be secured to a threaded nipple portion I9 of the outlet by a hose coupling, or the like (not Another object is to provide a valve, wherein shown). The discharge outlet may be Provided with a, suitable anti-recoil plug 2l adapted to be threaded into the bore of the nipple portion il.

'I'he valve body i2 may further be provided with a safety discharge and recoil preventing outlet 2|,- in communication with the chamber below the seat I4, for releasing the pressure medium to the atmosphere in the event the pressure within the cylinder exceeds a safe working pressure. The outlet 2| is normally closed by a breakable safety disc 22, which is held in place by a safety discharge plug 24.

A spindle 25 is threaded for rotation in the upper portion of the valve body at 25 (Figure 3), and has a shank portion 21 (Figure 1), for unseating the valve member I5. Preferably, the shank portion 21 extends through a U-sectioned sealing gasket or washer 23 located in the upper portion of the valve chamber. The thread, illustrated at 25, is left-handed, whereupon counter-clockwise rotation of the spindle, the shank portion 21 is moved downwardly to urge the valve member l off its seat to release the pressure medium from the cylinder through the discharge outlet |1.

'I'he upper end of the spindle 25 extends outwardly from the valve body, and is provided with a manually operable member, such as a hand wheel 30, or the like, secured to the spindle by a pin 3| (Figure 3). As noted more particularly in Figures 1 and 3, the hand wheel has a substantially hemispherical or dome-shaped head 32 and has a circular depending flange 34. The head 32 and ange 34 are relatively smooth to eliminate damage to the equipment in a safety pack which may rub against the hand wheel. The head may be provided with suitable legend or indicia for indicating that counter-clockwise rotation of the hand wheel will open the valve.

In order to facilitate manual gripping of the hand wheel, two diametrically opposite radially inwardly extending recesses 35 (Figure 2) are formed in the head and flange of the hand wheel, and a shelf portion 35 is provided on the head within each of the recesses. The recesses 35 and shelf portions facilitate assembly and concealment of the locking means about to be described.

In order to render the valve adaptable for the reception of locking means, the upper end of the valve body is provided with a lug or ear 40 having an aperture 4| extending vertically therethrough, and each of the shelf portions 35 of the hand wheel is provided with an aperture 42 extending vertically therethrough and adapted to be placed in alignment with the aperture 4| (Figure 3). As will be observed from the following description, only one aperture 42 is necessary; however, two, preferably, are provided to make the hand wheel symmetrical in appearance, and to permit the position of the shank portion 21 with respect to the valve member I5 to be adjusted within a half turn of the hand wheel.

The locking means may comprise a pin 44 adapted to extend through one of the apertures 42 and the aperture 4|, and a snap fastening member 45 for supporting and latching the pin 44 in valve locking position.

One end of the pin 44 has a pair of closely spaced transversely extending apertures 45 for substantially pivotally attaching the snap fastening member 45, as about to be described, and the otherv end of the pin is provided with a pair of opposed convergim faces 41 and 49 for facilitating latching of the member 45 to the pin. The face 41 faces outwardly and may be inclined at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of the pin than the face 4l, to facilitate mapping the member 45 into latched position. The face 45 faces inwardly and serves as a stop or abutment for maintaining the member 45 in latched position. Excellent results may be attained by having the face 41 inclined at an angle of about 30 and having theface 45 inclined at an angle of about 15 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pin. If desired. both faces may be inclined at the same angle. for example, 30, to eliminate the possibility of improper location of the faces during assembly.

'Ihe snap fastening member 45, preferably, is formed of relatively stiff spring wire adapted to be bent into its desired shape by simple operations. The member 45 has a pair of substantially parallel leg portions 5I (Figure l) each provided adjacent one end with an offset portion 5| (Figures 2 and 3) having a transversely extending portion 52 (Figures l and 2) extending through one of the apertures 45 of the pin 44 to substantially pivotally attach the member 45 to the pin. The free ends of the portions 52 may be crimped or flattened after being inserted into the apertures 45 to prevent removal. Adjacent the other ends thereof, the leg portions each have a coiled spring portion 54, respectively joined by an intermediate upwardly projecting tongue or inverted U-shaped portion 55 (Figures 1 and 3) adapted to serve as a latch for engaging the latching face 43 of the pin.

When the pin 44 and the snap fastening member 45 are assembled in valve locking relation, as shown in Figure 3, they are substantially concealed and shielded in the recess 35. When in this position the leg portions 50 are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin 44, and the tongue 55 projects upwardly in back of the pin to engage the latching face 43. It will be seen that the pin and the member 45 may be readily placed in the foregoing described latched relation by forcing the tongue 55 against the face 41, whereby the coiled spring portions 54 yield and permit the tongue to snap over the apex or edge 55 (Figure 3) of the converging faces 41 and 43. Unauthorized unlatching of the pin may be prevented by a seal wire 51 extending through the coiled portions 54 of the snap fasning member and extending about the valve The member 45 and the pin 44 may be unlatched by an outward and upward pull of a suillcient magnitude applied at or adjacent the end of the member 45 where the spring portions 54 are located. The pull required must have a substantially greater force than the force required to snap the tongue 55 in back of the pin, and must also be able to break the seal wire. When such a pull is applied, the spring portions 54 yield to permit the tongue to slip under the edge 56 of the pin. whereby the pin and member 45 are unlatched.

In order to facilitate unlatching of the pin and snap fastening member, a pull cord 53, or the like, is suitably fastened to the coiled spring portions 54 and to the valve body or the cylinder. An upward yank or jerk of the cord pulls the tongue 55 out of latching relation with the face 40, causes the member 45 to pivot about the upper end of the pin, and eiects withdrawal of the pin from the apertures 4| and 42, whereby the hand wheel is unlocked for valve operation.

The pull cord 50, as illustrated in Figure 1, is assembled by passing it through the coiled spring portions 54, and securing the respective ends thereof by means of a square knotil and clips I2 to .provide a closed loop. The loop is then collapsed, and the end opposite the end passed throughthe coiled spring vportions 54 is passed between the portions 54 to provide hitch il about the portions 5I adapted to prevent the oord from moving laterally with respect to the portions Il. A clip 65 may be attached to hold the respective strands of the loop together adjacent the hitches 64. The loop is then slipped over the valve and is constricted by a clip i secured to the cord to provide a small loop extending about the neck vof the cylinder and beneath the valve body, whereby removal of the cord from valve and cylinder is prevented. l

The cord 60 may be of a suitable length to facilitate manually gripping thereof and pulling it upwardly to unlatch the pin 44 and withdraw it from the apertures 4| and 42 of the valve body and hand wheel, respectively. It will be understood that the cord may be formed of any ilexible material, such as. twisted or braided, fibrous or metallic rope, cable, or the like.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved valve and locking means for preventing accidental or unintentional operation thereof. The locking means are readily. latched to lock the valve operating member against movement, and are easily unlatched by a single pull of the cord. By making the parts of the` valve relatively smooth and shielding the locking means, the valve and locking means are particularly adapted to be used in connection with inflatable safety equipment normally folded together and stored in a pack, bag, compartment or the like. The valve locking means are rugged in construction and readily withstand theJrough usageto which they may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is .to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

It is also tobe understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention hereinV` described, and al1 statements of the scope of the invention l which, as a matter of language, might be said to fastening means connected,to one end of said last mentioned member and having a portion en- 8881118 the other end of said last mentioned member to maintain said last mentioned member in said apertures.

2. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein, a manual valve operating member having an aperture therein, a member extending through said apertures, fastening means connected to one end of said last mentioned member and having a portion engaging the other end of said last mentioned member to maintain said last mentioned member in said apertures, and manually engageable means connected to said fastening means for releasing said fastening means and withdrawing said last mentioned member from said apertures to permit movement of said valve operating' member.

3. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein, a manual valve operating member having an aperture therein, a

member extending through said apertures, fastening means connected to one end of said last mentioned member and having a portion engaging the other lend of said last mentioned member to maintain said last mentioned member in said apertures, and a seal wire for securing said fastening means to said valve body.

4. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein, amanual valve operating member having an aperture therein, a member extending through' said-apertures and having a latching portion at one end thereof, and snap fastening means connected to the other end of said last mentioned member and having a portion for engaging the latching portion ofl said last mentioned member to maintain said last mentioned member in said apertures.

5. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein, a manual valve operating member having an aperture therein, a member extending through said apertures and having a latching portion at one ed thereof, snap fastening means connected to the `other end of said last mentioned member and having a portion for engaging the latching portion of said last mentioned member to maintain said last mentioned member in said apertures, and manually engageable means connected to said fastening means for releasing said fastening means .and withdrawing said last mentioned member from said apertures to permit movement of said valve operating member.

6. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating lhand wheel having an aperture therein adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body, a pin extending through said apertures ior locking said hand wheel against rotation and having a latching portion at one end thereof, and snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin and having a spring urged projection for engaging the latching portion ofA said pin.

7. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein, a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having an aperture therein adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body, a pin extending through said apertures for locking said hand wheel against rotation and having a latching portion at one end thereof, snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin and having a spring urged projection'for engaging i the latching portion of said pin, and a pull cord attached to said fastening means for moving said projection out of engagement with said latching portion and for withdrawing said pin from said apertures to permit rotation of said hand wheel.

8. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having any aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having an aperture therein adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body, a pin extending through said apertures for locking said hand wheel against rotation and having a latching portion at one end thereof, snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin and having a spring urged projection for engaging the latching portion of said pin, and a pull cord having one end thereof attached to said fastening means for moving said projection out of engagement with said ntomas portion ma for withdrawing said pin from said apertures to .permit rotation of said hand wheel, the other end of said pull cord being attached to said valve body.

` 9. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having a depending flange provided with a recess at the outer periphery thereof, and having an aperture adjacent said recess adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures for locking said handwheel against rotation: and snap fastening means disposed in said recess and being within the outer periphery of said flange, said snap fastening means being connected to one end of said pin and having a portion for engaging the other end of said pin to lock said pin on said hand wheel and said valve body.

10. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having an aperture therein adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures, having a wedge... shaped latahing portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces,

one of said faces being inclined at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of said pin than said other face; and snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin and having a projection adapted to be forced past said face having the greater angle of inclination and being adapted to engage said face having the lesser angle of inclination to lock said pin on said hand wheel and said valve body.

l1. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having a depending flange provided with a recess at the outer periphery thereof, and having an aperture adjacent said recess adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures, having a wedge-shaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, one of said faces being inclined at a greater angle .to the longitudinal axis of said pin than said other face; and snap fastening means disposed in said recess and being within the outer periphery of said flange, said fastening means being connected to the other end .of said pin and having a projection adapted to be forced past said face having the greater angle of inclination and being adapted to engage said face having the lesser angle of inclination to lock said pin on said hand wheel and said valve body.

12. In a valve, the combination Yoi a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having a depending flange provided with a recess at the outer periphery thereof, and having an aperture adjacent said recess adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures. having a wedge-shaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, one of said faces being inclined at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of said pin than said other face; snap fastening means disposed in said recess and being within the outer periphery of said flange, said fastening means being connected to the other end of said pin and having a projection adapted to be forced past said face having the greater ansie of inclination and being adapted to engage said face having the lesser angle of inclination to lock said pin on said hand wheel and said valve body; and a pull cord having one end thereof attached to said fastening means for movil g said projection out of engagement with the engaged face of said latching portion and or withdrawing said pin from said apertures to t rotation of said hand wheel, the other end of said pull cord being attached to said valve body to prevent loss of said cord, fastening means and pin after said pin has been unlocked and withdrawn.

13. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a latching portion at one end thereof. snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin having a projection for engaging said latching portion, and a pull cord attached to said means.

. 14. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, one of said faces being inclined at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of said pin than said other face, and snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin having a projection for engaging said latching portion.

l5. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a latching portion at one end thereof; and snap fastening means formed of spring wire and having a pair of substantially parallel leg portions connected to the other end of said pin, a coiled spring portion adjacent each of said leg portions, and a projecting portion intermediate said spring portions, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the latching portion of said pin.

16. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, one of said faces being inclined at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of said pin than said other face; and snap fastening means formed of spring wire and having a pair of substantially parallel leg portions connected to the other end of said pin, a coiled spring portion adjacent each of said leg portions, and a projecting portion intermediate said spring portions, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the latching portion of said pin.

17. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof Provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, one of said faces being inclined at a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of said pin than said other face, snap fastening means formed of spring wire and having a pair of substantially parallel leg portions connected to the other end of said pin, a coiled spring portion adjacent each of said leg portions, and a projecting portion intermediate said vspring portions, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the latching portion of said pin; and a pull cord extending through said coiled spring portions.

18. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having an aperture therein adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures, having a wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces; and snap fastening means connected to the other end o1' said pin and having a projection adapted to be forced past one of said faces andbeing adapted to engage said other face to lock said pin on said hand wheel and said valve body.

19. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having a depending flange provided with 'a recess at the outer periphery thereof, and having an aperture adjacent said recess adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures, having a wedge-shaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces; and snap fastening means disposed in said recess and being within the outer periphery of said flange, said fastening means being connected to the other end of said in and having a projection adapted to be force past one of said faces and being adapted to engage said other face to lock said pin on said hand wheel and said valve body.

20. In a valve, the combination of a valve body having an aperture therein; a rotatable valve operating hand wheel having a depending flange provided with a recess at the outer periphery thereof, and having an aperture adjacent said recess adapted to be placed in substantial alignment with the aperture of said valve body; a pin extending through said apertures, having a wedge-shaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces; snap fastening means disposed in said recess and being within the outer periphery of said pin from said apertures to permit rotation of said hand wheel, the other end of said pull cord being attached to said valve body to prevent loss'of said cord, fastening means and pin after said pin has been unlocked and withdrawn. l

21. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising. a pin having a Wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, and snap fastening means connected to the other end of said pin having a projection for engaging said latching portion.

22. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a pair of opposed converging faces, snap fasteningmeans connected to the other end of said pin having a projection for engaging said latching portion, and a pull cord attached to said means.

23. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a, wedgeshaped latching portion at one end thereof provided with a Apair of opposed converging faces; and snap fastening means formed of spring wire and having a pair of substantially parallel leg portions connected to the other end of said pin, a coiled spring portion adjacent each of said leg portions, and a projecting portion intermediate said spring portions, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the latching portion of said pin.

24. A valve handle locking device of the class described, comprising a pin having a latching portion at one end thereof; snap fastening means formed of spring wire and having a pair of substantially parallel leg portions connected to the other end of said pin, a coiled spring portion adjacent'each of said leg portions, and a projecting portion intermediate said spring portions, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the latching portion of said pin: and a pull cord extending through said coiled spring portions.

WALTER M. HAESSLER. 

